How to travel from San Francisco, CA to Chicago, IL

There are 3 options to travel between San Francisco, CA and Chicago, IL including taking a bus, train, and flight.

The cheapest way to travel from San Francisco, CA to Chicago, IL is a flight with an average price of €211.

This is compared to other travel options from San Francisco, CA to Chicago, IL:

A flight is €89 less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from San Francisco, CA to Chicago, IL costing on average €300.

A flight is €156 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from San Francisco, CA to Chicago, IL costing on average €368.

The fastest way to travel from San Francisco, CA to Chicago, IL is by flight with an average journey time of 4h 49m.

Other travel options to Chicago, IL take longer:

Bus takes on average 53h 44m.

Train takes on average 54h 0m.

The distance from San Francisco, CA to Chicago, IL is approximately 1853 miles (2983 km).

The average frequency per day from San Francisco, CA to Chicago, IL is:

• Around 73 flights per day.
• Around 9 buses per day.
• Around 5 trains per day.

However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between San Francisco, CA and Chicago, IL as scheduled services by bus, train, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.

These are the most popular departure and arrival points from San Francisco, CA to Chicago, IL:

• Flights mostly depart from San Francisco International Airport and arrive in O'Hare International Airport.
• Trains mostly depart from Emeryville station, Emeryville, CA and arrive in Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL.
• Buses mostly depart from San Francisco, Transit Center Bay 29 and arrive in Chicago, Union Station (Amtrak), IL.

If finding a good deal is your main consideration for your trip from San Francisco, CA to Chicago, IL, then we'll help you find the best value travel companies for you:

• Travel with Greyhound to go to Chicago, IL by bus.
• Travel with Amtrak to go to Chicago, IL by train.
• Travel with American Airlines, United, Alaska Airlines, frontier airlines to go to Chicago, IL by flight.

Yes, there is a direct route available from San Francisco, CA to Chicago, IL:

• 12 direct flights per day with American Airlines, United.

Omio customers who travel from San Francisco, CA to Chicago, IL often also extend their vacation to go to New York, NY, Indianapolis, IN, Milwaukee, WI, Minneapolis, MN, Detroit, MI. Omio can help you plan your trip by finding the best connections between Chicago, IL and these popular destinations at a great price.

Most travelers need at least three days in Chicago, IL to see the main sights at a comfortable pace. If you want day trips or a slower itinerary, consider adding extra time.

In Chicago, IL, you can explore the Museum of Science and Industry and its interactive exhibits, enjoy the vibrant neighborhoods like Wicker Park and Lincoln Park, take a river cruise to view iconic architecture, and attend a live performance at the historic Chicago Theatre. Visit Lincoln Park Zoo for a free and enjoyable day. For sights, don't miss Millennium Park with its modern art, the renowned Art Institute of Chicago, the entertainment hub of Navy Pier, panoramic views from Willis Tower Skydeck, and the fascinating exhibits at the Field Museum.

To fully experience Chicago, IL, plan for at least 3-4 days to visit key attractions such as Millennium Park, The Art Institute of Chicago, Navy Pier, and explore diverse neighborhoods.